Women in Corporate Boards

On May 13, CEE held another exciting discussion in the Vantage Point series, covering the Economic Outlook from the Boardroom: Perspectives from Women of the Board. Held over breakfast at the Harvard Club of New York, an esteemed panel of leaders shared their insight and their own personal experience while discussing the challenges of women in the boardroom and beyond.

CEE’s CEO and President Nan J. Morrison opened the program, while Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Director and Chief Economist of the Ford Motor Company, moderated the panel.

The Hon. Mary Schapiro, 29th Chairman of the SEC, Former Chairman and CEO of FINRA, and a 2008 CEE Visionary Award winner, presented first, noting that only 18% of corporate board seats are held by women—and yet, when women make up a larger percentage of a board, it’s more likely to see a higher return on capital and sales.

Mellody Hobson, President of Ariel Investments, followed up by addressing the importance of both gender and racial diversity, and how it creates real value for companies.

Rounding out the panel, Ms. Cathy Minehan discussed some of the ways that gender disparity is being addressed, like the 2020 Women on Boards, an initiative to increase the percentage of women serving on corporate boards.

One of the most important initiatives to bridging the inequality gap is early financial education. And given our mission here at CEE, to promote financial and economic literacy in K-12 students, we couldn’t agree more.